Bigger Problems for Bloggers than the Associated Press

June 16, 2008 — Ron Chusid

While the threat of lawsuits from Associated Press might be a nuisance for bloggers in the United States, some bloggers face far graver threats. The BBC reports that the arrest of bloggers has reached a record high:

Since 2003, 64 people have been arrested for publishing their views on a blog, says the University of Washington annual report.

In 2007 three times as many people were arrested for blogging about political issues than in 2006, it revealed.

More than half of all the arrests since 2003 have been made in China, Egypt and Iran, said the report.

The World Information Access cited in this story reports that the average prison sentence was fifteen months and the longest was eight years. The actual number arrested might be much higher due to difficulties verifying arrests and finding the reason for the arrest in some countries. They also claim that “In the last four years, British, French, Canadian and American bloggers have also been arrested.” I would like to see more detail on what the bloggers from these countries were actually arrested for.